Staff Correspondent
British citizens living abroad are now eligible to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of
how long they’ve been living outside the UK. A new law has removed the previous 15-year time limit,
according to a press release.
Supporting the awareness raising campaign of the UK’s Electoral Commission, British High Commission
Dhaka is calling on British residents living in Bangladesh to check if they are eligible. The Commission is
the independent and impartial organisation that oversees elections in the UK.
Those who have previously lived in or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK
parliament elections. They can register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote and will need to confirm
their personal information every three years. Anyone on a UK electoral register is also considered a
permissible donor to UK political parties and campaigners.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said:
“A change in UK law means that more British citizens living abroad are now eligible to vote in UK
Parliament elections. It’s important that eligible people are made aware of the changes so that they can
register to vote and cast a ballot when the time comes.
“If you used to live in the UK or know anyone who did, let them know they may be able to have their say
at the next UK general election. It only takes five minutes to register, and it can be done online at
gov.uk/registertovote. It’s also now possible to apply online to vote by post or proxy.”
